Frosty Sunrise

 Hello Lovelies,
on Thursday I could have gone walking with my walking group. I certainly needed the miles for my goal to walk 1000 miles this year. Last year I had completed the challenge by late November, but not this year. By mid November the 1000 miles looked a like it would slip through my fingers, but somehow I've managed to chip away at the final 100 miles or so and as I write this post I have just two miles left to walk... and one more day to do that in. Yay.

On Thursday, with Hubby and the boys at home, I couldn't really settle to leaving them all day to go out with my group. But I hoped to fit in a couple of local walks during the day. I woke just before 8am and looked out to see a beautiful frosty morning. Time for a speedy breakfast and then get out there. I dodged the frozen puddles and walked towards the sunrise. Everybody else at home was still in bed.

By the stables the steam from the muck-heap had a golden glow :0)

And the ice crystals glinted in the first shafts of sunlight.

My footsteps made a crunch on the frozen grass.

and a solitary bird sang in the spindly branches of the overgrown hedgerow.

The fields were white.

and so was the road.

A little further along the road I spotted two pheasants before they spotted me, that's a rare occurrence.

I just love the icy leaves.

and frozen puddles. No mud today. Hurray.

When I saw a little Robin along the footapth I recalled  that I had finally remembered to bring some bird seed with me. There you go Robin.

The sun was getting higher and the sky was cloudless, but the path was still in deep shadow.

Here the sunlight gave the landscape a golden glow.

And here I smiled at the tiny bird footprints in the ice.

Time to leave the rest of that birdseed.

Somebody else was enjoying their breakfast.

Moo to you too.

My favourite sort of sign

I take only photographs and leave only boot prints :0)

More ponies enjoying the hay

I love the light in this picture.

One chap came over to say hello. It's always nice to see such well looked after horses.

and there's plenty more fodder to last the winter.

Time to head up the icy lane

and into the village. The yarn shop window display made me smile.

By this time the sun was getting higher and melting the frost on the church roof.

I was home by 10am and happy to make breakfast for the family knowing I had already walked 4 miles. My Christmas mantel is looking lovely this year.

The snowy paintings mum has given me really add to the festive scene.

And the small bunch of scented narcissi I picked up in the supermarket are making me smile. 

such happy flowers.

Later in the day, after some housework,  I managed another walk. This time with hubby and eldest. I was happy to clock up the same amount of miles as I would have walked if I had gone out with the walking group, but fitted it around  family stuff too.

It was such a perfect winters day, I think this could be my favourite walking weather.

I hope you will pop back soon to see where I walked the final miles of 2017. Hopefully it will involve moorland and views. So exciting :0)

Jacquie x

Out and About

Hello Lovelies, 

thank you so much for the encouraging comments on our shed project. This weekend we have made more progress and I'm relieved to say we now have a permanent, waterproof roof. WooHoo :0)

That's a great feeling. We had good weather this weekend and seized the day, but it doesn't stop me wishing I could have gone walking instead. 

Last weekend the weather was too windy to tackle the roof and I got up early to have a walk before Storm Brian hit us. I wanted to see a beautiful sunrise and was at the country park by 7.45am. It wasn't quiet the colourful spectacle I had imagined, but I still enjoyed my walk.

and as the sun got higher I loved the golden light. The Cormorants made me smile has they dried their wings on the island.

It was so nice to get out early, see the sun

and breathe the fresh air on a cool and windy morning.

Before going home for some warming porridge.

In the end we were very fortunate that the storm was not so severe here in the East Midlands.

Then on Thursday I got to walk in Derbyshire with my super walking group.

Got to love the autumnal hues and mossy stone walls.

It was in the Matlock area and I just love the hilliness around there. I know it's for the views, but also for the similarity to the area of Yorkshire that I grew up in. I do love picking my way down a steep slope. It's such a nostalgic feeling to me. Though as a kid I was probably running at full pelt, hoping not to fall over :0)

The highlight of this walk for me though, was our walk up through the Lumsdale Valley. It's a place I have shared here before on more than one occasion.

I love the waterfalls.

And the interesting industrial ruins.

Up to this point it had been a mild and still day but we hadn't seen any sun. How thrilled I was when it emerged from behind the clouds as we reached the mill pond.

Which had a glassy surface perfect for enjoying the reflections.

All the autumn colours sing when there's a bit of brightness in the sky.

So while my walk total for October is poor,  I must remember to be thankful to be able to squeeze in beautiful walks like these two. I'm lucky to have the time, in amongst the family, work and shed construction stuff.

I'm not sure I will make my 1000 mile challenge this year but hey ho, there's got to be a balance. I'm happy. Life is good.

Jacquie x